Feeding mechanism with gripping device



sept. 9, 1952 N. BRAGER ETAL 2,609,946

FEEDING MECHANISM WITH SHIPPING DEVICE 5 sheets-sheet 1 Filed May 14. 1947 ATTONYS v Spt. 9, 1952 L. N. BRAGER ETAL 2,609,946

FEEDING MEcHANIsM WITH GRIPPING DEVICE Filed May 14, 1947 5 sheets-sheet 2 ATTORNEYS Sept. 9, 1952 l.. N. BRAGER ETAL 2,609,946

FEEDING MECHANISM WITH GRIPPING DEVICE l Filed May 14, 1947 s sheets-sheet 's lNVENT R BY-w ATToRNYs Sept. 9, 1952 L.. N. BRAGER ETAL 2,609,946

FEEDING MECHANISM WITH GRIPPING DEVICE Filed May 14, 1947 5 sheets-sheet 4 minimum l V NT R WMA M im

ATTORN EYS Sept. 9, 1952 L. N. BRAGER ETAL 2,609,946

4 FEEDING MECHANISM WITH GRIPPING `DEVICE Filed May 14, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEYS 4acontinuous procession.

Patented Sept. 9, 1952 JUNITEDSTATES PATENT oFFlfcEjf FEEDING MECHANISM WITH GRIPPING i DEVICE Leif'NQV Brager, ll/Iztplewood,` and Frank F. Borkmann, Union, Ni l., assign'ors to American Gan Company, New York,

New Jersey MY.; a corporation of Application Mayld, 19417,r Serial N. 747,954

vancing them along'a path-'oftravelin a 'con- ,tinuousprocession j: Anotheroojectis"thefprovsionlofsuch'devices wherein the" bodies fare'fedjfroin the stack and delivered" in `a predetermined' spaced andtimed order for delivering the `bodies under'controlin Another object is` the provision ofsuch' devices wherein the manner' ofl'grippingjan'd holdingthe bodies' `and of releasing them upon delivery is es- `pecially adapted to high speed'f'eeding and advancing of fragile lightweight bodies. Numerous other objectsland advantages' ofthe with parts broken away;

` Figs. 3, 4 and areenlarged'ffagmentary views of' `c letails of the `mechani'siii `as L viewed from `,the

left in ,Fig; 2," the 'views showing thesame-parts indifferent positions. and I x.

" flig;` Glisfa top planview `of the detail'sshown iIFi'g. 3. f `f As a preferred embodiment of the instantfinlvention the drawings illustrate a mechanismfor feeding!'lightweightcontainerbodies A` 1) 'individually `from the bottomofastack of such bodies 4for advancement in spaced and timed relation in `a continuous `procession. The bodies shown` in the`.drawings, by way of exampleare rectangular shaped, nbre' bodies of the type used for frozen foods and' other products' and have both ends open. y

` ThebodiesA tobe fedfrorn'th'eist'ackv are disfposed in a horizontal or sidewise*positionronefon r 142 emma (ci. 14e- 8.5)

top 'of the `other in a Vertical magazine` ll (Figs. l'and2) dened by vertically disposed 'guide'rails l2r leading from a source of supply of the bodies. The bodies are fed from the stack in timed order and in rapid succession loyiaA plurality of spaced carrier elements or carriers I4 (see also Fig. 3)

`which are mounted on pivot pins I5 carriedin i the outer ends of arms I6 ofa Vcontinuously rotating' carrier wheel or disc Il `located adjacent the lower end of the magazine Ill in longitudinalV alignment with the bodiesin'the magazine (see also Fig. 6)'.

The carrier wheel Il is disposed in avertical position'on'a drive shaft I3 (Figs. 1 and 2) which is journaled in bearings ,I9 formed in a'frarne 20 i which may be themainframe' of a more elaborate machine inwhich the feedingmechanism is used. The shaft i8n may be drvenin any suitablemanner.' Hence as the carrier-wheel rotates, it propels the carriers i4 through a circular path of travel adjacent the lower end of the stack of bodies A in the magazine H. Thus each carrier' ld'in succession and in timed order, individually passes adjacent the lower end of the magazine; i g

Each of the carriers VI4 is formed with an `L shaped support for a body A, the support comprising` 'a vertically disposed side wall section 25 (Figs. Band 6) and an angularly disposed bottomor ledge 2`5which extends inwardly from the sidewall section at right angles thereto. 'L -shaped support is disposed on'the forwarder leading side ofthe carrierA pivotlpins |45. Adjacent `the pivotpin, the side wall section'25. is formed with an extension28 which carries an inwardlyprojectingatweb `or retaining pad 2S. On the opposite or following side of the pivot pin l5` each carrier` 'hl is` formed with a rearwardly and outwardly extending `cam arm 32. The outer endofthe `arm carriesa` cam roller 33' which opcrates in a cam track -34 of a stationary ring cam 35 secured to the frame 2D. y

Hence when a carrier` I4 on. the rotating Acar-- rier wheelll approaches the lower end of the magazine I I` as an incident in its movement through its'circularpath of travelit' approaches an open end of the lowermost body in the maga- Uadacent the wall of thebody.

During :this approach of a` carrier Ill toward This Y rier i4. 4.clamping finger.

the body, the cam track 34 tilts the carrier into such a position that its support ledge 26 moves into position under the body along a horizontal plane parallel with the horizontal underside of the body as best shown in Figs. 4, and 6. The carrier thus moves endwise into position under the body for receiving and for removing it from the magazine.

As this parallel or horizontal movement of the body continues with the rotation of the carrier wheel Il, the leading edge of the retaining pad 29 engages against the adjacent end edges of the body and pushes the body horizontally and outwardly with the carrier. As soon as the body starts to move with the carrier it is clamped in position against the carrier as best shown in Fig. 3, and is then pushed out from under the stack of bodies in the magazine I I.

During this pushing action against the end of the body, the retaining pad 29 moves under the body next above in the stack (see Fig. 1), sliding along the underside wall of this body and thus holding the stack in place until the next following carrier I4 on the carrier wheel comes into place under the stack to receive and support the next body therein. The top surface of the retaining pad 29 adjacent its leading or pushing edge is formed with a tapered wall section 31 (Figl 3) to facilitate movement of the pad into place under the stack.

`VClamping of the body in the carrier before removal from the magazine is brought about by` a clamping or gripper finger 4I (Figs. 3 and 6) mounted on a pivot stud 42 disposed under the retaining pad 29 and secured in the side wall section 25 of each of the carriers I4. Beyond the pivot stud 42 the clamping finger 4I is formed with a spring arm 43 which may be formed integrally therewith. This arm is secured to one endfof a tension spring 44. The other end of the spring is secured to the underside of the retaining pad 2S. The spring thus draws the spring arm 43 upwardly, as viewed in Fig. 3 and thus holds the linger 4I in a position tightly clamped against the support ledge 26 of the car- This is the normal position of the Howevenjust prior'to a carrier I4 coming into ,positionV to receive a body A from the magazine II` as described above, the clamping or gripper finger 4I is momentarilylifted clear of the ledge 26 of the carrier as best shown in Fig. 5, to permit the positioning ofthe body between the iinger and the ledge of the carrier. This lifting of the finger is effected by a lifter arm .45 which 4is disposed adjacent the nger, between the iin- `ger and the side wall section 25 of the carrier and ismounted on the pivot stud 42. Adjacent its outer end, thelifter arm is formed with a lateral projection 46 which overhangs the spring varm 43 and normally engages against the spring carrier travels around its curved path of travel,

by a tension spring 49 one end of which is secured to the outer end of the lifter arm 45. The opposite end ofthe spring is secured to the carrier Wheel I'I.

The @am 4s permits the spring 4a to draw the llifter arm 45 downwardly at the proper moment in the cycle of travel of the carrier and thus through its overhanging projection 46, teniporarily rock the finger 4I into an open position to receive the body A. As soon as the body has been picked up by a carrier I4 the cam 48 acts to raise the pivoted lifter arm 45 and thereby release the clamping iinger 4I to return to its normal position under the tension of its spring 44 for clamping the received body tightly in position.

With a body A clamped tightly in position in a carrier I4, the carrier continues along its circular path of travel with the rotating carrier wheel I'I and is brought into position adjacent a rotating turret 52 (Figs. l and 2) having a plurality of square cut pockets 53 formed in its outer periphery for the reception of and advancement of the fed bodies A. During this travel of the carrier I4 it is maintained in a predetermined position under control of the stationary cam 35.

The turret 52 is disposed in a vertical plane adjacent the carrier wheel II and is mounted on a cross shaft 54 journaled in bearings 55 formed in the main frame 20. The turret 52 is rotated continuously in time with the carrier wheel II by a driven gear 56 which is mounted on the turret cross shaft 54. This gear meshes with an idler gear 51 which is mounted on a stud 58 threadedly secured in the main frame 26. The idler gear meshes with a driving gear 59 which is mounted .on and driven by the main driving shaft I8.

As a carrier I4 with its body A approaches the turret 52, the stationary cam 35 tilts the carrier forward at a slight downwardly inclined angle for delivering the bodyinto a pocket 53 of the turret. Simultaneously with this action the stationary annular edge cam 48 Vrocks the lifter arm 45 upwardly and thusforces a pusher lug 65 integral therewith (Figs. 4 and 6), outwardly against the edge of body A and hence frictionally forces the body out from under the clamping linger 4I while the latter is in spring tensioned clamping position, and into the adjacent pocket 53 of the turret. The pusher lug 60 operates in a recess 6I formed in the inner face of the carrier side wall section 25. `The turretk 52 thereupon carries the body along a curved path of travel partially around it. A plurality of guide rails 62 disposed adjacent the outer periphery of the turret retain the body in place in its turret pocket. These guide rails are secured to brackets `Si! bolted to the main frame 20. The turret 52 and the guide rails 62 guide the bodies A to any Ysuitable place of deposit or for'further treatment.

It is thought that the inventionjand many of its attendant advantages will'be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material aidvantages, the form hereinbefore described' being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

We claim:

1, In a feedingvmechanism for articles such as container bodies and the like, the combination of a magazine for holding a stack of tubular container bodies, a carrier support rotatably mounted on a horizontal axis beneath said magazine, a carrier pivotally mounted on said support for engaging and removing a container body from the bottom of said magazine, gripper `means pivotally mounted on said carrier having means `for moving the same vinto engagement with the interior'wally surface.V off'a `supported body`- on said carrier for clamping thelbody in lziiacethere'-V on; means for rotating saidlcarrier 'supportin a substantiallyvertical plane, means `adjacent the pathVof travel of said carrier with said support for tilting the-moving carrier on itshpivotal mounting and relative to said support intofa predetermined Y position -for delivery of `the clamped body therefrom, movable mean'sfadjacent the'path of travel 'of saidcarrier for receiving fthe body therefrom and `for advancing` said body along a continuing patliy ot traveL' and means actuated 'by `the rotation" of said carrier support fo'rf transferring wsaid container body from said carrier to saidmovablemeanss i 2.*In a feeding mechanism lforfarticles such@ as tubular container bodies i and -the like, the:r com# bination of a carrier support rotatablylmounted on' `a horizontal axis,` a `carrier"piveta-lly mounted on'said support for receivingland holdinga con# tainer *bodyf gripper meanspivotally` mounted on said 'carrier `and insertable into said body -for holding the body in 'place -o'n said carriergmeans for rotating said carrier-supportV inf aisubstantially vertical plane for inserting `said=gripper means into an `end of said tubular containeribody, cam controlled means ad-.i'acentthe path ofl travel of said 'carrier support for' tilting Y thel moving carrier Aon its pivotall mountingfandf-relative to saidfsupportinto a predetermined positionfor delivery of vthe body fromsaid" Ecarrier, movable means adjacent the path of travel of "saidcar'rier forireceiving'the body therefrom 'and forfadvancing said body alongL a"continuingpath of travel, `actuating means -movably mountedV on saidicarrier and `operablein time Withlthefre-` ceptionof a body to be heldfonisaid carrier 'and theideli'very of the body-fromsaidcarrier for opening and closing "said-*gripper meansf and pusher means movablym'ounted on;said"carrier and actuated by the rotation of said-carrier support Vfor transferringsaid-- containerf from: ther carrier to said movablemeansf l 3.4 In affeeding mechanism `for articlessuch as tubular containerbodies and` the like,` the-Acombination or a magazine for -retaining a stack-of bodies, a movably-mounted carrier. rotatable "on a horizontal` axis' beneath said mia- ',fazieV f or receiving and supporting a container 'bodyj :grips per means m'ovably `mounted on said carrier land insertableinto an end ofA saidbodyfor clamping the bodyl inV place on `the carrier,Y means for bodily rotating saidcarrierin a substantially vertical plane and for inserting saidgripper means into an end off-said tubular container body; means adjacent `the path of travel 'of said carrier for` moving the carrier intola diiferent position for-delivery of the body therefrom, rotatable means adjacent the path of travel of said carrier for receiving the body therefrom and for advancing saidbody along a continuing path Aof travel. andmovable` means on saidl carrier actuated by the carrier rotating-means 'for transferring said container body fromlsaid carrier to said rotatable means.

4. In a .feeding mechanism for articles :such as tubular container bodies and the like,,thecom bination of a magazine `forretaining a-stack of bodies, a pivotally mounted carrier rotatable on `a horizontal axis in averticallplane beneathV said magazine Vfor removing the flowermost 4container body therefrom and for supporting the removed body, a member formed on said carrier and engageable under the body next above the removed body-for temporarily holding said stack of bodies position,

in placepgrippermeans mounted on said 4carrier and insertable into an end ofthe removed` body for holding it iin placeon said carrien means for bodily rotating said carrier `on `said horizontal axis andf'for` inserting said gripper means into an end of said tubular container bodypmeans ad jacent thepath of travel of said-carrier `for tilt-r ing themoving carrier on its `pivotal'mounting into position for delivery ofthe body therefrom-, movable means'adjacent thepath of travelffof said carrierl for receiving the fbody from the carrier and for advancing-it along-a continuing path of travel;V and ipusher means carriedfby and actuatedby the rotationof saidcarrierrfor trans-Y ferring said container body from thefti'ltedfcjarrier to said movablemeans.` u

5. In a feeding mechanism for articles-suchjas tubular container bodies-and the like; the; come bination 'of a plurality of carriers each` pivotally i mounted 'on' a common rotarysupport and: bodily rotatable in'` a vertical planea for receiving and supporting container' bodies; Vgripper means pivotally" mounted on said carriers" and respec` tively insertable'into the open' ends of-saidbodes for `holding the received bodies inu placelin said carriers respectively, means for rotating-said carrier support and for inserting said gripper means Yinto an i end` of said tubular container body, means adjacent the pathoftravel o'said carriers for tilting the movingcarriers"individL ually on' their pivotal mountings relativeto lsaid support into a predetermined'position for deliveryof rthe bodies therefrom, movable means`-dis` posed adjacentthe path of travelof-said'carriers for receivingftjhe bodies individually therefrom and forfadvancing said bodiesin a` continuous procession along a"continuingpathV of'travel, and pusher members on said Vcarriers actuated by `the 4rotation thereof for' successively transferring said; container" bodies fromrthe tilted carriers toA Said'mOVable means;r A

6; In a feeding mechanism-*for articles suchas tubular V4container -bodies and thelike;"the com*- bination of a support rotatable in a vertical plane onA `a` horizontal axis,` a` carrier `pivotally `mounted on" saidsupport' for receiving and' `hold"- ing a lcontainerjbody,` a gripper" iinger jpivotally mountedon'said carrier `and insert'able into said,

held tubular body'iforclamping the bodyin place on the carrier, means Vfor rotating said carrier support and forVv inserting saidI gripper `ringer into an end of said tubular container body, means adjacent the path'of travel ofA said carrier for tilting the latter on itspivotal mountinglint'o a predetermined position for delivery of thelbody therefrom, movable means-adjacent the path 'of travel of said carrier for receivinglthe bodyfro'm the carrier and for advancing it along` 'aw continuing path of traveljand pusher means'carried by said carrier and actuated by the rotationl of said support for 1transferringsaid container body from thetilted carried to-said 4`movable means.v

7. In a feeding mechanism for articles such as tubular container bodies andthe like, the `com- Abination of a support. rotatablefvon' a rhorizontal axis -in' `a vertical plane, `a carrier pivotally mounted on said support forreceiving andholding` a `container body, a gripper iinger pivotally mounted on said carrier and insertable into said 'held :bodyfor clamping the bodyiin' place on the carrier, pressure kmeans acting 'on saidgripper finger for -maintaining said iinger 'in gripping means for rotating said carrier support and for inserting said gripper nger into an end of said tubular container body, means adjacent the path of travelof said carrier fortilting the moving carrier on its pivotal mounting into a predetermined position relative to said support for delivery of the body therefrom, movable means adjacent `the path of travel of said carrier for receiving the body from the carrier and for advancing it along a continuing path of; travel, means. for transferring the clamped `container body from the tilted carrier to said movable means, and means movably mounted adjacent said gripper finger and operable in time withothe reception of a body in .said carrier for engaging said finger to tilt the same out of clamping position into position for insertion into a said container body.

8. In a feeding mechanism for articles such las tubular container bodies andthe like, the combination of a carrier support rotatablefupon a horizontal axis, a carrier pivotally."rriounted on said support for receiving and holding a container body, a gripper nger pivotally mounted on said carrier and insertable into said bodylfor clamping'a received' body in place on said. carrier, spring means for maintaining saidiinger in gripping position, an actuating lever disposed adjacent said gripper finger, means for rotating said carrier support in a substantially Vvertical plane and for inserting said vgripper finger into an end of said tubular container body, means adjacent the path of travel of 'said carrier for tilting the moving carrier on its pivotal mounting into a predetermined positionv relative'td 4said support for delivery of the body frommsaidhca'rrier, movable means adjacentthe path; of, travel of said carrier for receiving the body therefrorl'i and for. advancing the body along vf'if'c'ontinuing pathv of travel, meansv .for transferring f the clamped container bdyfrom .theitiltedfcarrier to said movable means, and cam means operable against said actuating lever`in`tim'e .vvth the reception of a body in said carrier for successively moving said gripper linger on itsg pivotal mountingto open and containerbodyfclarnpingpositions.

9. In .a feeding l v as containerbodies and the like, th'e combination of a carrier having abottomlwallsection and a side Wall' section constituting" ajqu'arter r'nold for receiving and supportingazicontainer .body on its side, said bottom Wall section fof saidA carrier covering less. than the lfull Width .of the body supported thereon, va -grip'pernger ymounted on said carrierV and engageable Within Vsaid body adjacent the side Wall V'section of said carrier for holdingy the body tightly against'the .bottom Wall section of the carrier, movable means for propellings'aid carrier along a4 predetermined pathV of, travel, vrrian's l'adjacent the path vof travel'l of said carrier fonshifting moving carrier into a predetermined position for delivery of the body, therefrom, V 1movable. n'lea'ns adjacent the path of travel of the bottomwall section of said carrier for receiving the body from thecarrier and for advancing it alonga continuing path of travel, and means fortrans- -ferring said bodyfrom the shifted carrier :to

10. In a feeding mechanism for articles such as container bodies and the like, the combination of a rotatable'disc, a plurality oi carrierspivotally mounted on said disc atspacedrintervals adjacent its. outer periphery for receivingand supporting individuali containerbodies and for mechanism' ffor articles such carrying them along a curved path of travel with said disc. gripper v means mounted on each of said carriers `for holding'the received bodies in place thereon, stationary cam meansv disposed adjacent said disc and yengageable by said carriers for rocking the` carriers individually at a predetermined place in their curved path of travel for shifting the bodies carriedthereon into a predetermined position for delivery from the carriers, a turret having spaced pockets therein and rotating in time Withsaid disc there-'adjacent for receiving the bodies in its pockets from said carriers and for advancing Vthem along la continuing path of travel, means forsuccessively transferring thebodies from said carriersto said turret pocketaand guide rails disposed adjacent said turret forfreta'ining the. received bodiesin place' inthe turret pockets, 'i J 1.19. I n. afeedine. mechanism Vforarti 11es Such as tubular container-bodies andthe like, the cornbination ofga ,carrier support rotatablejupon a horizontal axis, fa" carrier pivotally mounted on saidSUppOrt forreceiving and holdinga container body, gripper means pivotally-rnounted on saidcarrier and insertable into a saidbodyor clampingareceived bodyin place on said carrier, means for rotating said carrier support vin. a substantially vertical plane and for inserting said gripper means into an end of said tubular container `b ody, means vadjacent the path of travel of s aid carrier for-tilting the moving carrier on its pivotal mounting relative to said Support-into another predetermined position for delivery of the body therefrom, means for engaging and discharging-abody from-v its clamped engagement with saidgrippermeans on saidg carrier, and movablemeans adjacent the `path of travel of'said carrier forreceiving the body discharged therefrom andfor advancing-said body along a continuing path A of travel. 1

A 12. Ina feeding mechanism f for `articlesfsuch as container bodies andthe like, the combination of a carrier for receiving and supporting a .container body, a gripper finger mountedon said carrierA and insertable into said body for holding a received body'in place thereon.,- movablemeans .for Ypropelling Said carrier. alone' a predetermined path oftravel, means adjacent the path of travel or said carrier for shifting the, moving carrier vintoa predeterminedpositiQn fordelivery of the body therefrom-.fa pushernlus Operableini time with the travelof the body-1 and engageable with the-body for deliveringy itfrom saidcarrier, and movable Ameans adjacentthe path offtravelof said carrier ;forreeeiving the body. from th e carrier and for. advancing talons a continuing Dathof trav e1. f A

I Y 1, vLEIFN. BRAGER.v

. jihe following lreferences f are ot record in: the iiieofvthis patent: j I

UNITED .STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 989,562 Brooks -1 Apr. 18, 1911 1,716,406 -Wo1f* June 11, 1929 v1,958,846 Christensenl May 15, 1934 2,335,239 VGiadreir et a1. -Nov. 30, 1943 2,366,515 Giadfeiter'et ai. Jan. 2, 1945 V27,393,961 Aimgren v Feb. 5, 1946 

